UAE Tour 2026, February 16-22

[Berniece]

Remco has Pogi and Vingegaard hiding in altitude camps after those Mallorca/Valencia displays. UAE is throwing Del Toro into the deep end, lamb to the slaughter or a massive upset? Either way, I’m sat. 🍿

Route
Stage 1: Madinat Zayed Majlis - Liwa (144,0 km)
The first stage of the UAE Tour is – as is often the case – identical to last year's, with an uphill finish at Liwa Palace. Jonathan Milan won there last year, but we also saw Lennert Van Eetvelt and Oscar Onley finish in the top five.

Stage 2: Al Hudayriat Island - Al Hudayriat Island (12,2 km)
We're familiar with the time trial on Al Hudayriat Island from previous editions. 12.2 kilometers of flat-out racing against the clock, something Remco Evenepoel and Joshua Tarling will love.

Stage 3: Umm Al Quwain - Jebel Mobrah (183,0 km)
A new feature in the UAE Tour! The runner Jebel Jais will be replaced by the significantly more tough Jebel Mobrah, which climbs at almost twelve percent in the last seven kilometers. Something for the real climbers.

Stage 4: Fujairah-Fujairah (182,0 km)
The fourth stage is also new to the UAE Tour, featuring Fujairah. There, we'll see climbs spread out throughout the day, without any truly challenging climbs. Perhaps baroudeurs will see an opportunity here.

Stage 5: Dubai - Dubai (166,0 km)
The fifth stage will be held in and around Dubai, meaning we barely have any elevation gain on the table. Sprint, or will the wind do something?

Stage 6: Al Ain - Jebel Hafeet (168,0 km)
The sixth stage goes to Jebel Hafeet, the defining stage race in the United Arab Emirates for several years now. It's a 10.6-kilometer climb at 6.9 percent, though the gradient flattens out somewhat towards the end.

Stage 7: Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi (149,0 km)
Stage seven is similar to stage five, but in that other well-known city in the United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi. There, the sprinters can really indulge themselves.

Top Competitors

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[Krzysztof_O]

Remco is looking strong but it's also possible that after stage 3 the main topic here will be his weight (again!)

 

[Samamba]

A LOT of wind predicted for stage 1.

I think we'll see some echelon carnage, guaranteed, unless the wind it's too much of a tailwind but I think its basically perfect for echelons? Experts?

Professional weather forecast

50+ weather layers, weather radar and satellite

www.windy.com

 

[James M]

Hopefully a lot of echelons, which UAE always has the potential for. The TT stage should be a banger. Tarling of course, but Hayter is a sleeper on these shorter TTs. Both obviously should only be a benchmark for Remco.

 

[Cycling111]

Hopefully a lot of echelons, which UAE always has the potential for. The TT stage should be a banger. Tarling of course, but Hayter is a sleeper on these shorter TTs. Both obviously should only be a benchmark for Remco.

In Valencia, yes, because his team was far superior to the rest, but in general, I'd say it's the complete opposite.

Last year, they left Pogacar alone on the schelons in a group with the entire Visma. Not even riders like Pollitt or Wellens were there.

Last year in Paris-Nice, they lost the race because of the schelons, all team behind.

Adam Yates lost UAE Tour against Remco because the whole team was dropped on the schelon.

Those are just three recent examples. There have been more in other races.

What happened in Murcia was the exception, on a very short stage and without a other strong team. Movistar riders are very bad for echelons except for Quintana and Romeo; it was surprising that Juanpe was even there, one of the worst riders in the peloton on the schelons.

 

[James M]

In Valencia, yes, because his team was far superior to the rest, but in general, I'd say it's the complete opposite.

Last year, they left Pogacar alone on the schelons in a group with the entire Visma. Not even riders like Pollitt or Wellens were there.

Last year in Paris-Nice, they lost the race because of the schelons, all team behind.

Adam Yates lost UAE Tour against Remco because the whole team was dropped on the schelon.

Those are just three recent examples. There have been more in other races.

What happened in Murcia was the exception, on a very short stage and without a other strong team. Movistar riders are very bad for echelons except for Quintana and Romeo; it was surprising that Juanpe was even there, one of the worst riders in the peloton on the schelons.

Which UAE Tour always has potential for.*

 

[Cycling111]

Which UAE Tour always has potential for.*

LOL.
Obviously I was wrong and thought you were referring to the team 😂

So we agreed that Bora should force the situation.

 

[Red Rick]

Not gonna lie Jebel Mobrah is very intriguing. But Vingegaard not racing is whelming.

 

[yaco]

It's 24 hrs before the race and only just over half the teams have been announced. Its not good enough1

 

[Berniece]

A LOT of wind predicted for stage 1.

I think we'll see some echelon carnage, guaranteed, unless the wind it's too much of a tailwind but I think its basically perfect for echelons? Experts?

Professional weather forecast

50+ weather layers, weather radar and satellite

www.windy.com

It's only in the first 50km that it might be interesting, right? There's enough wind, but it mostly comes from the back, not sure they'll be able to easily create echelons. Don't you need it come from the front/side?

 

[Faserr]

It's only in the first 50km that it might be interesting, right? There's enough wind, but it mostly comes from the back, not sure they'll be able to easily create echelons. Don't you need it come from the front/side?

You need side/tailwind

 

[Berniece]

You need side/tailwind

So the complete opposite of what I said. You would think after watching cycling for more than 20 years, you would know such a thing.

 

[Faserr]

The wind could be a but too much from the back tomorrow to create big gaps. But I think its enough for the bunch to be really nervous and fast.

 

[Samamba]

The wind could be a but too much from the back tomorrow to create big gaps. But I think its enough for the bunch to be really nervous and fast.

Yeah that's the question, is it too much tail or not, we'll see tomorrow, but it will definitely be some chaos, and Berniece is right that's it's mainly the first 60km, which is a long stretch, but if there's enough teams behind with a good reason to ride, they could come back or limit the damage in the second part of the race when they will be between the dunes (less wind, and they change directions sometimes).

I know there will a few GC riders shitting their pants tho, Van Eetvelt definitely one of them. Gall another one (but he has a good team around him), Gaudu, ...

 

[Pozzovivo]

Considerin only the racing aspects, I really enjoy the UAE Tour. I think it is quite underrated and actually adds a lot to the WorldTour calendar, in some ways more than several of the European races.

The sprint field is almost always world class. In a typical season, only the Giro and the Tour clearly have stronger lineups, and the race delivers good sprint finishes year after year.

The GC field is usually solid, even if it is not always the very best climbers, and the route asks for a pretty wide set of skills. Crosswinds often shape the race, there is normally a proper flat ITT, and the climbs test different qualities. Jebel Jais and Hatta Dam in earlier editions reward punch and positioning, while Jebel Hafeet and Jebel Mobra are more about raw climbing ability.

Well balanced overall. Just a genuinely good race to watch.

Must be said - this year we lack the punchy stuff and both the GC and sprint field seems unusually weak!